Chinese Complement – 上 shàng

Grammar Point:
In Chinese, verbs frequently combine with complements to indicate the result of an action. One common complement of result is 上 shàng. When used after a verb, 上 shàng no longer carries its original meaning of “up.” Instead, it indicates that the action has been successfully completed and that the resulting state has been achieved and continues to be maintained.

Structure

Verb + 上 shàng + Object

他tā背bēi上shàng書包shūbāo去qù學校xuéxiào他tā背bēi上shang书包shūbāo去qù学校xuéxiào
He put on his backpack and went to school.

她tā戴dài上shàng帽子màozi她tā戴dài上shang帽子màozi
She put on her hat.

他tā穿chuān上shàng外套wàitào就jiù出門chūmén了le他tā穿chuān上shang外套wàitào就jiù出门chūmén了le
He put on his coat and left.

Not Just Clothing. It is also used when something attaches.

貼tiē上shàng標籤biāoqiān貼tiē上shang标签biāoqiān
Stick on a label

掛guà上shàng畫huà挂guà上shang画huà
Hang on the painting.

請qǐng把bǎ蓋子gàizi蓋gài上shàng请qǐng把bǎ盖子gàizi盖gài上shang
Please put the lid on.

他tā插chā上shàng充電器chōngdiànqì，手機shǒujī開始kāishǐ充電chōngdiàn他tā插chā上shang充电器chōngdiànqì，手机shǒujī开始kāishǐ充电chōngdiàn
He plugged in the charger and the phone started charging.

Difference

穿chuān外套wàitào穿chuān外套wàitào
wear a coat (Neutral action / habit)
It can refer to a general action, a habit, or a simple statement of fact. It does not specifically highlight whether the coat has just been put on or is currently being worn.

穿chuān上shàng外套wàitào穿chuān上shang外套wàitào
put on a coat (Completed action + result)
上 is a result complement. It indicates that the action of putting on the coat has been successfully completed and the coat is now on the person.

穿chuān著zhe外套wàitào穿chuān着zhe外套wàitào
be wearing a coat (Ongoing state)
著着 zhe indicates a continuing state. It describes the condition of wearing the coat, rather than the action of putting it on.